We skipped breakfast and went straight from the hotel to Maggie Valley to see the Wheels Through Time exhibit which features hundreds or rare and unique motorcycles, almost all of which run. After entering the main room the owner, Dale, saw us and said "Are you the guys who rode in on the oilheads? [slang for a kind of 2 cyl BMWs] I've got a bike I want you to see. I'm gonna start it for you. Heck you're gonna ride it." Next thing we know, Dale has started up an old 1942 Harley Davisdon XA750 and is riding it right through the museaum, through the lobby, and out onto the front lawn!

When we catch up, he starts to point out the cylinder layout and the direct drive system that this old bike and our new bikes have in common. I asked about the "007" painted on the front fender. It turns out that was the serial number - HD only made 1000 of these bikes for the military (this one had be re-painted). So then Pete and I each got to ride it around the front lawn for a minute or two - not the smoothest ride, but I was grinning ear to ear!